backdrops

[Daddy F]

I'm not sure what you consider "affordable" but I have had great luck with photographs. I too a digital picture of the sky and croped it in Photoshop LE (came with my camera) to size the image to 36" wide x 18" high. The I had my local Kinko's print it out and mount it onto a piece of foam core board. The whole thing cost about $50 and the results are great!

For a larger backdrop I took several consecutive sky shots and used the "Create Photomerge" command to join the pictures into one long image (this way the image won't pixelate when its blown up.) Kinko's printed this one on a piece of indoor sign vinyl (even cheaper then the paper print) and I mounted it to the plywood backdrop I had framed up. Voila! No seams and a perfect sky background! Both the paper and the vinly can be printed up to 5' wide and unlimited length. They charge about $8 per square foot for the paper prints and $7 per square foot for the vinly prints (foam mounting was extra.)

I hope this was helpful and good luck.

[conagher]

I was so canvas-challenged, I could not even draw butter for a lobster meal. While surfing The Net, I came across a really cool instructional video on painting backdrops by Darryl Huffman in Alaska.

Easy Backdrop Painting videos

I bought the video and within an hour was so happy with the outcome, I decided NEVER to buy another commercial backdrop. I now paint all my backdrops and even a few for friends with new-found confidence & skills.

Time & repetition have greatly improved the results but here's my first effort at painting a backdrop after watching the video one time. Here's an eastbound freight headed down the mountain. It was very easy doing this backdrop. You should consider buying the video.

[mikelhh]

 

 If you're not too confident about painting your own maybe you could try what I did, and paint a small, portable sky that can be propped up wherever needed for photos. Good practice before tackling a big one.

 In this photo the sky is at the end of my layout and its only 22ins long by 16 ins high.  I know it isn't great but it took about 5 min to paint with acrylics and has at least improved the look of my photos.  And I'm thinking of doing several different ones so I can change the weather.

 Mike

 

  

 

[pcarrell]

You could try this......

http://www.backdropwarehouse.com/indexbdwh.htm

They have factory seconds that are more affordable.

[johncpo]

Hello pamam,

  I'm not the best painter either but some of these ideas might help and I've either heard of them or used them.

 1. Use the scenery board, an inexpensive way to have skies. Use the foam core board available at WalMart, HobbyLobby or craft stores, they come in many colors and sky blue is the best. They are about 24 " x 30 " so they may work. Also buy any that are brown or tan and cut them out in patterns representing hills.

 2. Poster board, again comes in many colors and will dress up any layout, and remember you can get alot of scenic background value from just simple paintings of your own making, they do not have to be art gallery quality.

 3. Walthers has many catalog items in the backdrop category, go to their website and take a look, there are many in the backgrond choices.

 Best of luck.

 johncpo

[Anonymous]

i need help im not that good of a painter so i was wondering if any 1 could hep me find a affordable 5-7 foot long back drop for my new layout ty for helpin